In Islamabad, Pakistan and Italy have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation by signing an agreement aimed at preventing illegal entry of Pakistanis into Italy.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Italian Ambassador Mirelena Armellini discussed bilateral relations and mutual interests during their meeting at the Ministry of Interior. The interior minister instructed relevant authorities to expedite the finalization of the agreement.

Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to combating human trafficking, Minister Naqvi emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against human smuggling networks. He stated that individuals involved in human trafficking would face both imprisonment and financial penalties. Additionally, he highlighted the intention to send skilled Pakistani workers to Italy through legal channels, contributing to remittance inflows.

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The Italian Ambassador commended the interior minister’s efforts in combating human trafficking and pledged full cooperation in this endeavor. During the meeting, the proposal to designate Milan and Islamabad as sister cities was also discussed.

With approximately 2.2 million Pakistanis residing in Europe, the region holds significance for the Pakistani diaspora. Italy, hosting around 120,000 Pakistanis according to the Italian Ministry of Labour, remains an important destination. Previous research has identified various factors driving migration to Italy, including violence, insecurity, economic reasons, and lack of rights and freedom.